Press, especially for shirts



Dec. 19, 1961 H. K. KANNEGIESSER ETAL 3,013,705

PRESS, ESPECIALLY FOR SHIRTS Filed March 7, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet l Dec. 19, 1961 Filed March 7, 1960 H. K. KANNEGIESSER E TAL PRESS, ESPECIALLY FOR SHIRTS 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 19, 1961 H. K. KANNEGIESSER ET AL 3,013,705

PRESS, ESPECIALLY FOR SHIRTS Filed March 7, I960 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 3,013,705 Patented Dec. 19, 1961 ice 3,013,705 PRESS, ESPECIALLY FOR SHIRTS Herbert K. Kannegiesser and Richard J. Juraschek, Vlotho, Weser, Germany, assignors to Kanneglesser & Co. Maschinenfabrik G.m.b.I-I., Vlotho, Weser, Germany Filed Mar. 7, 1960, Ser. No. 13,108 Claims. (Cl. 223-57) The present invention relates to a garment press, especially for shirts, which comprises a shirt supporting body movable on a track between two pressing plates.

Garment presses of the above mentioned general type are known in which the shirt supporting body, when moved out from between the pressing plates, receives a shirt and which is provided with spreaders or fins for spreading the respective shirt along its width. The shirt supporting body is then moved into an open box where the supported shirt is pressed from the front and the back by correspondingly arranged pressing plates. The drawback of this type of garment presses consists in that after the shirt has been placed on the shirt supporting body and has been straightened out on one side, namely where the single person operating the press is normally located, for instance the front side of the shirt, the op erator has then to walk around the press to the back side of the supported shirt in order to carry out the additional operations such as smoothening out of the back of the shirt, sprinkling the same, etc.

Furthermore, it is necessary that the operator frequently bends down in order to smoothen out the lower portion of the shirt or garment. This is particularly cumbersome with closed and long garments and is rather fatiguing.

It has been suggested rotatably to journal the shirt supporting member so as to be able to rotate the same about its vertical axis, and to provide fluid pressure means for initiating a pressing cycle, said fluid pressure means being controlled by a switch.

It is an object of the present invention further to improve garment presses of the above mentioned type so as to facilitate and in particular to speed up the handling and operation thereof.

It is another object of this invention to provide a garment press comprising a garment supporting member selectively movable between and out from between pressing plates, in which the garment supporting body will not only be rotatable but will also be movable in vertical direction when in loading position.

it is a further object of this invention to provide a garment press as set forth in the preceding paragraph, 7

which will be equipped with means for automatically actuating the garment supporting member in a predetermined sequence.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will appear more clearly from the following specification in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 represents a diagrammatic side view of a garment press according to the invention.

FIG. 2 diagrammatically illustrates a side view of the press of FIG. 1 with the garment supporting body in elevated position.

FIG. 3 illustrates on a somewhat larger scale than that of FIGS. 1 and 2 the frame carrying the displaceable garment supporting body.

FIG. 4 represents a diagrammatic view of the means for carrying out the rotational movement of the garment supporting body, FIG. 4 being shown on a larger scale than that of FIGS. 1 and 2.

PEG. 5 illustrates a View of the garment press of the invention as seen in the direction of the arrow A of FIG.

I placeable in the sides of the main member 10a.

1, however with the garment supporting member moved into the box or cabinet-like housing containing the pressing plates.

FIG. 6 is a section taken along the line VI--VI of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 shows a view of the garment supporting memher and the means for actuating the spreaders pertaining thereto.

The garment press according to the present invention is characterized primarily in that the garment supporting member when in its loading position is adapted to be rotated at least through and is furthermore adapted to be lifted in a substantially vertical plane.

The arrangement of the present invention may furthermore be equipped with a control switch which, when actuated, will automatically bring about certain definite operations of the garment supporting member in -a certain predetermined sequence. 7

Referring now to the drawings in detail, the garment press illustrated therein comprises a base 27a having mounted thereon adjacent the right-hand end thereof (with regard to FIG. 1) a bracket 27' to which is linked at 23 a tiltable frame 26a. The other end of base 27a has hingedly connected thereto a cylinder 24a with a fluid operable piston (not shown) reciprocably mounted therein which latter is pivotally connected by means of piston rod 24 at23a to the adjacent end of frame 260.

Also mounted on base 27a is a box or cabinet-like housing 15 which, as will be seen from FIG. 6, is closed at the rear, i.e. on that side which faces the bracket 27, and which is open at the front, i.e. at that side which faces the cylinder 24a. Of course, if desired, also the rear of housing 15 may be open.

Arranged within housing 15 at both sides of frame 26a there are heatable pressing plates 16 which are linked to and supported by one end of piston rods 37a the other end of said piston rods being connected to pistons 37 reciprocably mounted in cylinders 38. The cylinders 33 are provided with bores at each end thereof for connection with a pressure fluid system for supplying pressure fluid to one or the other side of the pistons 37 and for withdrawing fluid from the respective opposite side. With regard to FIG. 5 it will thus be seen that if pressure fluid is supplied to that side of pistons 37 which faces toward the outside of housing 15, the pressing plates 16 will be moved inwardly whereas when pressure fluid is supplied to the opposite sides of said pistons, the pressure plates 16 are moved in opposite direction. The pressing plates 16 are heatable in any standard manner either by steam or electrically.

Mounted on frame 26a is a track 26 which extends from inside said housing 15 close to the cylinder piston system 24a, 24. Displaceably mounted on track 26 is a carriage 13 which is movable from the position shown in FIG. 1 representing the loading and unloading station, into the housing 15 which designates the pressing station. Carriage 13 may be moved on track 26 in any desired manner, for instance by pressure operable means such as hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder piston means 14 operatively connected to carriage 13 for instance by means of a piston 14a and piston rod 1412.

Carriage 13 supports a garment supporting body 16 on which the garment to be pressed, for instance a shirt, is placed for purposes of pressing the same. Garment supporting body it which is more clearly shown in FIG. 7, comprises a central or main plate-like member 10a and lateral fins or spreaders 11 protruding from and dis- The spreaders 11 have linked thereto articulated levers 4t}, 41 and 40a, 41a which in their turn are connected through a common lever 44 with a piston 45 reciprocably mounted in a cylinder 46 adapted to be connected to a fluid pressure supply source. It will thus be apparent that if fluid pressure is conveyed into the cylinder 46 below piston 45, the member 4-4 will be pressed upwardly thereby spreading the fins 11 outwardly. inversely, if fluid pressure is conveyed to cylinder 46 above piston 45, the fins 11 are moved inwardly.

The main member 10:: of the garment supporting body is furthermore provided with shoulder supporting elements 12 for supporting the shoulders of the respective garment to be pressed. Prior to moving the garment supporting member Hi with the garment thereon into the housing 15 between the pressing plates 16 for carrying out a pressing operation, it is of course necessary that the garment on the supporting body it] be properly smoothed out in front and in the rear. In order to facilitate this operation without necessitating a change in the position of the operator with regard to the respective side of the machine, the garment supporting body it; is rotatably journalled on carriage 13. To this end, the garment supporting body 10 is provided with a shaft 17 (FIG. 3) which latter is journalled in carriage 13 in any convenient manner in such a way that said shaft and thereby the supporting body It) may selectively be rotated in either direction through at least 180. For this purpose, the carriage 13 is equipped with a rack 18 (FIG. 4) meshing with a gear 19 connected to shaft 17. Rack 18 is connected to a piston rod 21 which in its turn is connected to a fluid operable piston 21a reciprocably mounted in a cylinder 29 supported by carriage 13. The piston 21a is a double acting piston and is adapted to be actuated by fluid admitted selectively through openings 22, 22'. It will be appreciated that always one of these two openings will alternately act as inlet and the other will act as outlet.

It is, of course to be understood that the rotation of shaft 17 is not limited to fluid operable actuating means but that any other means may be employed for this purpose, as for instance electric means. If no rotation of the garment supporting body is desired or if said garment supporting body is to be locked in its respective position, this can easily be effected for instance by means of a valve (not shown in the drawings) associated with the openings 22 and 22 so as to prevent movement of the piston 21a.

Inasmuch as it is frequently necessary not only to smooth out the front and back upper portion but also the lowermost portion of the garment on the garment support, the press according to the present invention makes it possible to lift the garment support 10 to a height which will enable the operator to smooth the lower portion of the garment on the garment support without stooping down. To this end, it is merely necessary to supply pressure fluid to cylinder 24a so as to bring about an upward movement of piston rod 24. It will be appreciated that upward movement of piston rod 24 will tilt frame 26a about the pivot or hinge 23 so that the entire structure mounted on the frame 26a including the garment supporting member 10a will be lifted along a vertical plane. This lifting movement will not disturb the position of the garment on the garment supporting body lt'ia because the garment is firmly held tight on garment supporting member 10a by the spreaders or fins 11. When the garment supporting member 10a is thus lifted to the respective height, the operator can easily smooth out the lower portion of the garment without stooping down.

After the garment on the garment supporting member has thus been smoothed out and placed into condition for pressing, the garment supporting member may then be lowered again by reversing the supply of pressure fluid to cylinder 24a.

The operation of the garment press according to the present invention will now be described. It may be assumed that the elements of the garment press according to the invention occupy a position as shown in FIG. 1. The operator then places the garment to be pressed, for instance a dress shirt, on the garment supporting member 10a. After the garment has been properly placed thereon, the operator actuates a valve (not shown) governing the supply of pressure fluid to cylinder 46 (FIG. 7) to thereby spread the fins 11 outwardly. This will hold the garment tightly on the garment supporting body. Thereupon the operator straightens and smooths out the upper front portion of the garment. Then the operator actuates a valve or the like (not shown) for governing the supply of pressure fluid to cylinder 20 to thereby actuate the rack 18 which meshing with the gear 19 turns the supporting member 10 in one or the other direction through The back of the garment on the garment supporting member 10 then faces the operator who has not changed his position with regard to the sides of the garment press. The operator is then able to smooth out and straighten the back of the garment. If the lower portion of the garment needs straightening, the operator may then raise the garment supporting member by supplying pressure fluid to cylinder 24a in such a manner that the piston rod 24 moves upwardly. After the lower back side of the garment has been straightened out. the operator again turns the garment supporting member through 180 so that the front side of the garment again faces the operator. If desired, the operator may then straighten out the lower front portion of the garment. Thereupon the pressure fluid supply to cylinder 24!: is reversed whereby the free end of the frame 260 and thereby the garment supporting member is again lowered to the position shown in FIG. 1.

The next step then consists in supplying pressure fluid to cylinder 14, left side thereof (with regard to FIG. 1) to thereby move piston 14:: toward the right (with regard to FIG. 1). in this way the garment supporting member 10 will be moved between the pressing plates 16 which then will be actuated by correspondingly supplying pressure fluid to the cylinders 38 so as to cause the pressing plates 16 to press against the garment on the garment supporting member If). After the pressing operation has been completed, the pressure fluid supply to cylinders 38 is reversed whereby the pressing plates 16 are lifted off the garment, and finally by correspondingly supplying pressure fluid to the right-hand side (with regard to FIG. 1) of cylinder 14, the garment supporting member iii is returned to its unloading position shown in FIG. 1 in which the garment is removed from the garment supporting member.

As will be evident from the preceding description, the arrangement according to the present invention makes possible in a surprisingly simple manner selectively to raise the garment supporting member in its loading station to allow the handling of the lower part of a garment on said support. It will also be evident from the above that the garment press according to the invention makes it possible by very simple means to rotate the garment supporting member so that the operator Without having to leave his station can easily smooth out the front as well as the rear of the respective garment on the garment supporting member.

It will furthermore be evident that the arrangment according to the invention is extremely simple in construction and highly economical and easy to handle.

While the garment press has been described as being equipped with a cabinet-like housing, it is, of course, to be understood that such housing may be completely omitted without in any way affecting the present invention.

The control of the various cylinders for actuating the individual fluid operable members may be effected manually or automatically by control circuits similar to those employed in connection with heretofore known garment presses of the general type involved in this case. If the control is effected automatically, a master switch 25, for instance in form of a manually or foot operable handle or pedal, may be provided. When providing an automatic control, the sequence of the various operations may then he as follows:

First the garment, for instance a shirt, to be pressed is placed on the garment supporting member whereupon the master switch 25 will be actuated. As a result thereof, the frame 25a is tilted by the cylinder piston system 24, 24a about pivot shaft 23 so that the garment supporting member is raised and the lower portion of the shirt can be properly smoothed. A predetermined time thereafter, which may be determined by a timer or time relay, the garment support is rotated through 180 to allow the operator to smooth the back of the respective garment. The frame is then returned to its lower position so that also the garment support is in its lowered position. Thereafter, the carriage carrying the garment supporting member is moved into the pressing position in which the garment supporting member is between the pressing plates 16. Finally, the pressing plates are actuated so as'to press the garment therebetween. After completion of the pressing operation, the garment supporting member is returned to its unloading station.

It is to be understood that the garment press described herein may also be provided with other customary auxiliary means such as collar holders on the garment supporting member and clamping bands to be placed therearound. However, since such elements are well known and are not necessary for the present invention, they have not been illustrated.

It is, of course, further to be understood that the present invention is by no means, limited to the particular construction shown in the drawings but also comprises any modifications within the scope of the appended claims.

What we claim is:

1. In combination in a garment press: a pair of fluid operable cylinder piston systems arranged opposite to each other in spaced relationship to each other; a pair of heatable pressing plates supported and operable by said cylinder piston systems in spaced relationship to each other and movable selectively toward and away from each other; track means supported by said frame and extending in longitudinal direction of said frame from between said pressing plates to a frame portion located outside said pressing plates and representing the garment loading and unloading station; a carriage mounted on said track means and movable selectively from said loading station to a frame portion located between said pressing plates and representing the pressing station, and vice versa; a garment support supported by said carriage and movable therewith for receiving and supporting a garment to be pressed; means for rotating said garment support on its axis on said carriage, means for selectively raising and lowering said garment support when the latter is in said loading station and means operable independently of the last mentioned said means for moving said carriage to and from said pressing station. I

2. In combination in a garment press: a pair of fluid operable cylinder piston systems arranged opposite to each other in spaced relationship to each other; a pair of heatable pressing plates supported and operable by said cylinder piston systems in spaced relationship to each other and movable selectively toward and away from each other; track means supported by said frame and extending in longitudinal direction of said frame from between said pressing plates to a frame portion located outside said pressing plates and representing the garment loading and unloading station; a carriage mounted on said track means and motor means connected to the carriage operable for moving the carriage selectively from said loading station to a frame portion located between said pressing plates and representing the pressing station, and vice versa; a garment support supported by said carriage and rotatable on a central axis thereon and movable therewith adapted for receiving and supporting a garment to be pressed; power operable means operatively connected to said garment support for selectively rotating the same on the carriage through at least in either direction; and means for selectively raising and lowering said track means to thereby raise and lower said garment support when the latter is in said loading station.

3. In combination in a garment press: a pair of fluid operable cylinder piston systems arranged opposite to each other in spaced relationship to each other; a pair of heatable pressing plates supported and operable by said cylinder piston systems in spaced relationship and movable relative to each other; a frame track means supported by said frame and extending in longitudinal direction of said frame from between said pressing plates to a frame portion located outside said pressing plates and representing the garment loading and unloading station; a carriage mounted on said track means and motor means connected to the carriage operable for moving the carriage selectively from said loading station to a frame portion located between said pressing plates and representing the pressing station, and vice versa; a garment support supported by said carriage and rotatable thereon on its axis and movable therewith and adapted to receive and support a garment to be pressed; one end portion of said track means being pivotally connected to one end portion of said track means to allow tilting of said frame about a substantially horizontal axis; and power operable means connected to the other end portion of said track means and operable to tilt the same about said pivotal connection thereof with said frame support to raise and lower said garment support.

4. A press according to claim 1, which includes master switch means operable to initiate the operation of the press and to control in a predetermined sequence the various operations involved in a complete pressing cycle.

5. In combination in a garment press: a base; housing means supported by said base; a pair of heatable pressing plates mounted within said housing means in spaced relationship to each other and movable selectively toward and away from each other; garment supporting means adapted to receive a garment to be pressed, said garment supporting means being movable from a position outside said pressing plates to a position between said pressing plates and vice verse; tiltable frame means having one end portion thereof pivotally connected to one end portion of said base; track means slidably supporting said garment supporting means and mounted on said frame means for tilting movement therewith; means arranged at the other end portion of said base and operatively connected to the other end portion of said frame means for selectively raising and lowering said frame and thereby said garment supporting means when the latter is outside said pressing plate; means for preventing movement of said garment supporting means on said track means when said frame means is tilted; and means operable for rotating said garment supporting means on said track means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,241,373 Rawlinson et al May 6, 1941 2,560,920 Berger July 17, 1951 2,834,523 Maxwell et al May 13, 1958 

